Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 15, Shloka 60

Adhyaya 15 — Karmic Retribution: Rebirths After Naraka and the King’s Compassion in Hell

Sanskrit

धिक् तस्य जीवनं पुंसः शरणार्थिनमातुरम् ।

यो नार्तमनुगृह्णाति वैरिपक्षमपि ध्रुवम् ॥

Transliteration

dhik tasya jīvanaṃ puṃsaḥ śaraṇārthinam āturam | yo nārtam anugṛhṇāti vairipakṣam api dhruvam ||

Translation

“那不援助前来求庇护的受难者之人，其生命实为可耻——即便他属于敌方，亦复如是。”

Word by Word

• धिक्: shame! fie!
• धिक्: Bhāva (भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: धिक् (अव्यय)
• Form: निन्दा-निपात (interjection of censure)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• जीवनम्: life
• जीवनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; here as object of censure

• पुंसः: of a man
• पुंसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुम्स्/पुंस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• शरणार्थिनम्: a refuge-seeker
• शरणार्थिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण + अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘शरणस्य अर्थी’ = one seeking refuge

• आतुरम्: distressed
• आतुरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; शरणार्थिनम् इति विशेषणम्

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• आर्तम्: the afflicted person
• आर्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अनुगृह्णाति: helps; shows favor to
• अनुगृह्णाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• वैरि-पक्षम्: even the enemy’s side
• वैरि-पक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैरि (प्रातिपदिक) + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘वैरिणः पक्षः’ = enemy’s side/party

• अपि: even; also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवाद-निपात (also/even)

• ध्रुवम्: certainly
• ध्रुवम्: Niyama (नियम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोगः; निश्चयार्थक (certainly)

Speakers

• King (gnomic moral statement within his speech)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "vira", "secondaryRasa": "karuna", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Compassion
• Refuge (śaraṇāgati)
• Ethics of war/hostility
• Universal benevolence

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Śaraṇāgati (granting refuge) overrides enmity: need and vulnerability create a moral claim. The verse asserts a high ethic where compassion is not limited by tribal or political boundaries.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Ācāra (normative dharma) in proverbial form; not one of the five structural purāṇic topics as content.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Enemy-side’ symbolizes the rejected parts of oneself; the teaching can be read inwardly as: do not abandon the suffering within you—integrate and heal rather than punish.